Short answer: the BIC America F-12. It ranks #163 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $299; the Polk Audio Monitor XT12 ranks #187, rated 3.3/5, and costs $319, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the BIC America F-12: 12” woofer with 475W peak power, reaches 116dB.
The case for the Polk Audio Monitor XT12: The 12” subwoofer of Polk’s Monitor XT range, with a long-throw bi-laminate paper woofer and a 50W (100W peak) Class AB amplifier, rated 24 to 160Hz. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured Polk Audio PSW108 (110.3dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands).
Buy the BIC America F-12. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Polk Audio Monitor XT12 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Worth knowing: the Polk Audio Monitor XT12 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.9 to 3.6, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| BIC America F-12 | Polk Audio Monitor XT12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $319.00 |
| Ranked | #163 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #187 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated |
| Enclosure | ported, rear | ported |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 74.9 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 83.8 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 95.8 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 101.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 104.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 110.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 113.3 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.9 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 110.0 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 106.7 dB | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.1 dB | - |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 14.7”W x 17.2”D (431.8 x 374.6 x 438.1 mm) | 16.4”H x 16”W x 17.9”D (417 x 406 x 455 mm) |
| Weight | 42.1 lbs (19.1 kg) | 39 lbs (17.7 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 | 5/3 |
| Cabinet Color | black | - |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | ErinsAudioCorner | - |
| Amplifier Power | 150W RMS | 50W RMS (100W peak) Class AB |
| Frequency Response | 25-200Hz | 24-160Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 12” (305mm) driver | 12” bi-laminate paper woofer |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for BIC America F-12:
- MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X vs BIC America F-12
- Monoprice SW-15 vs BIC America F-12
- SVS SB-3000 vs BIC America F-12
- BIC America F-12 vs Klipsch Reference R-120SW
- BIC America F-12 vs RSL (Rogersound Labs) Speedwoofer 10E
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
BIC America F-12: $299.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: 12” woofer with 475W peak power, reaches 116dB. Ported enclosure with low distortion. 150W RMS with high SNR. Performs like subs costing twice as much. Backed by 5-year warranty.
Full BIC America F-12 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 150W RMS |
|---|---|
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.1 dB |
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 14.7”W x 17.2”D (431.8 x 374.6 x 438.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 25-200Hz |
| Measurement Source | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 74.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 83.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 95.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 101.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 104.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 113.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 110.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 106.7 dB |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 42.1 lbs (19.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Polk Audio Monitor XT12: $319.00 Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Polk Audio XT15 (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.7/5), the Polk Monitor XT20 (larger bookshelf, rated 3.4/5), the Polk Audio XT60 (smaller floorstanding, rated 3.5/5), the Polk Audio XT70 (larger floorstanding, rated 3.6/5), the Polk Audio XT30 (smaller center, rated 3.6/5), the Polk Audio XT35 (larger center, rated 4.1/5) and the Polk Audio Monitor XT10 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.1/5). See every Polk Monitor generation.
Pros: The 12” subwoofer of Polk’s Monitor XT range, with a long-throw bi-laminate paper woofer and a 50W (100W peak) Class AB amplifier, rated 24 to 160Hz. It is one of the least expensive 12” subwoofers from a major brand.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured Polk Audio PSW108 (110.3dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands). A 50W amplifier is very little for a 12” driver, so output is limited.
Full Polk Audio Monitor XT12 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2026 (6 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS (100W peak) Class AB |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 16.4”H x 16”W x 17.9”D (417 x 406 x 455 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” bi-laminate paper woofer |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Frequency Response | 24-160Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 5/3 |
| Weight | 39 lbs (17.7 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons